GLENDALE, Ariz. — While watching the Arizona Cardinals take on the Chicago Bears at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, did you see the letters "GSH" on the Bears' jerseys and wonder what it means? Here is your answer.
The letters are the initials of George S. Halas, a former coach and owner of the Bears and one of the founders of the NFL.
Halas, who played college football at the University of Illinois and was even the MVP of the Rose Bowl in 1919, helped found the Bears' franchise in 1920, when they were originally known as the Decatur Staleys. A year later, the Staleys moved to Chicago and Halas renamed them to the Bears.
Due to his role in founding the Bears franchise, Halas was nicknamed "Papa Bear."
Halas played for the team as a wide receiver and defensive end until 1930 and he was also the Bears' coach during that time. His most famous play came in 1923 when he forced Jim Thorpe to fumble, recovered the ball and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown. That was an NFL record that would stand for 49 years.
Halas stepped down as the Bears' coach in 1930, but returned to the role in 1933. He would then oversee the Bears' "Monsters of the Midway" era in the 1940s before stepping down once again in 1942 to enlist in the Navy and fight in World War II.
Halas took the head coaching role back after being released from the Navy in 1946. He would lead the team until 1955 before taking a break from 1956-57. In 1958, Halas resumed coaching the Bears and would lead them until 1967 when he retired.
Halas spent a total 40 years coaching in the NFL and won 318 games, which is the second-most of all NFL coaches. He won six NFL championships as a head coach, which is tied for the most in NFL history.
He was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1965. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
The Bears added Halas' initials to their jerseys in 1984, a year after he died. The Halas family still owns the Bears to this day.
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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